Tub construction for washing machines and the like



E. G. LIPSKI July 8, 1952 TUB CONSTRUCTION FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed May 26 1950 Figl.

Inventor: tdward 6. l...,i si l Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED STATES I OFFICE TUB-'COKS' R Q ION on-WASHING;

MACHINES AND THE LIKE Edward G'. LipskL Bri'stol, 1a., 'assignor to-"Gene I era'LElectric Company; a corporation-of;New

York

n licationma zs;1950 seria1-M16432? r This invention relates-to an improved tub con exemplified'in clothes washingfmachines of the centritugal extraction type. In such machines the clothes are driedbyrapidly spinning "a receptacle-a basket-rotatably mounted within a tub which collects the-water dischargingfrom thebasketf In certain types of suchwashing'machines" the basket is also the-receptacle within whichfthe clothes are mechanically"agitated for washing; and the basket is imperfo'rate' except v forfa' line of openings-near the top thereof; through which'wash'water overfiowsto the tub andthrou-gh which the centrifugally extracted Wash water leaves the clothes; In such constructions the upperrim of the basket may be'only a few" inches belowtheupper rim of the tub and the casing iZcOVeI' and it is important to prevent the water from :splfashing over 'the edge of the basket 'or tub and falling into thespacejbetween the .tubfwall 'andth'e outeric'asing wall;

Itlis an object-of this: invention to provide. a tubfconstructionhavin g' anfeasily applied; flexiblei'rim portion which seals againsttheupper edge of the. tubland extends upwardlyinto con; tinuous, peripheral, engagement with the underside of the casing top. I

A further objectof the invention is'jto provide" a washing machine. tub having an upper flexible. rim portion which seats resiliently and in a con-' tinuous line with the underside ofthe wall of a tub cover'structure to minimize the escape of liquidfrom the tub It;is;sti1l another object; of theinvention to provide a washing-machine tub-construction havingg a flexible 'rim as aforesaid andin addition a pluralityof' members overwhich: a marginal walhof aitub cover. structure may be forced'so as position with respect to casing.- coveron? an outer supportingv framework;

of a mashing machinenr: the like;

lndapresentlyxpreferred'iormcof zmwinventiona 55- fi'i-Claimax (01. 2205-10) as hereinafter more fully described, I I may 'fabri catethe tub -body 'side'walisfrom sheet metal and afli'xtci' the upper edge'thereot' a rubber or eq'uiv alent membercharacterized by a heavyb'ody engaging with said s idewallsand having anon-- tinuous" subs'tantialiy frusto-c'onical lip risingthere'from. At suitabie interval's about the rimat 90'- degree-spacing -whenthe I'tu-b i's to be enclosed in a supporting 'structure-- ofre'ctangu-lar" shape*I provide fiange-IikeeXtensions which project beyond the side margins l of the support ing structure: It is advantageous to make-saidextensions integral with the'tub ri-m member that? they then provi'desoure areas-at which screws or-the 1ike-maypass'through theriinmem her and an upper; edge han e of'-the.--'tub forat tachment or the latter to the supporting' m'eans." The extensions also provide for looking a cover structure removably in positionby snapping or' forcing a rolled edge portion-of- "the coverover the-edge portions of the extensions. Such anarrangeinent makes itunneeessaryto 'prov-idea'd ditional fastening meansfor the coverand-*thus simplifies the -initial-assemblyof the machine and the removal of the cover-for inspection or repair of structuresas may-normally be concealed by" said cover. The upward projectionofthe frustoconical iip'is', such that when the cover ispiaced' inhome positionthe flexible lip isdistorted down :l wardly by the undersurface of the cover and forms therewitha continuousline of engagement which is effective to preventwater which may splash out of the tub frompassingto the outer" walloii'the tub or the like."

A similar rim member construction may be prog' vide'd where the tub" sidewalls are themselves made of rubber, In suchconstructiohtherim. member and I thev extension members" may be molded asan integraLpart of the tub'sidewall'. These and other features advantages will The top planview. ofa' domesticfwashin'g'fma chine which I; have chosen to illustrate a typical use 01; my invention-shows, seeFig. '1; asubs'tan.-.

flange 5 may rest. It should be understood that. the circular opening and circular tub are1by way.

of example only.

The present invention contemplates .associat ing with said tub a resilient structure orstruc-. tures which provide means for releasably retaining a cover i in position on the casingand for sealingly engaging the undersid oi said casing to prevent the contents of the tub from splashing-- over the tub rim and dropping into the space between the tub and casing. As is evident in Fig; 2, the cover 7 comprises a cover for the tub, although essentially it is the top or cover wall of the casing.

A removable lidlaaffords access to the tub for loading and unloading thesame. For such seourement' and seali g, I provide an annular memher 8 of rubber or the like having a relatively thick-walled body 9 downwardly extending from which is a continuous lip Iii. Bysuitably sizing the member .fi relative to the tub, the lip will envelop the tub bead 5 relatively tightly throughout the periphery thereof upon positioning the body 9. Adhesives or similar bonding materials are not normally required, or desirable. At a plurality of areas around the periphery oithe tubfor example, four areas in a rectangularcasing construction-the member 8 is provided with.

snubber members I l which extend outwardly over the flange 5, as indicatedin Fig. 3. 'The outermost edges of said members are parallel with the sidewalls or the casing and; are preferably rounded as clearly appears in Fig. 3 The length of saidmembers issueh as to providefor thepassage of a screwor equivalent fastening l 2 through the members H and-the flanges} and? of the casing and tub. It is thus possible in the rectangular casing illustrated to secure the rim.

member 8 and the tub ito the casing by at least eight fastenings. Extending upwardly from the body 9 is, acontinuous' frusto-conical lip is hav ing a relatively thick moderately stiff base wall portion and a substantially thinner, flexible, outer edge portion.

It has in the past been the practice to secure the casing cover i to the body'of the casing by screws or the'like. The snubbing'members provided' herein secure'the cover remo'vably in position on the casing. To this'end I provide the edge of the cover, structure with are-entrant bead i5 shaped to fit snugly about the rounded outer edge of the snubbers l l as shown in Fig. 3. "By soaping or otherwiselubricating said snubbers the casing may be forcibly snapped thereover and will bev held securely in position thereon. "In this'same' heavy base portion of the lip It provides sufiicient reactive force to maintain the engagement between the end of the lip l4 and the casing cover I. The inward slope of the lip guards against leakage resulting from masses of water striking forcefully thereagainst.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a tub rim construction which provides means for securing a cover member in home position and for preventing the escape of water from the tub to the inside wall portion of the casing. An advantage of substantial practical importance which derives from the use of myinvention resides in the fact that there. are no externally apparent means of securing the casing cover on the casing. The amateur mechanic is thus at a loss to understand the...method of attachment and removal of the casing, and is thereby discouraged from attempting to remove the casing so as to get access to the various valves and control elements normally mounted within the casing or immediately beneath the casing cover; Nevertheless, to the serviceman or other person qualified to inspect or repair the apparatus, the casing cover is easily removed and replaced.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course; that I do not wish to belimited thereto since many modifications may be ma'de; and I there'- fore contemplate by the appended claims to'cover any such modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of my invention. l

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In combination, a supporting structure hav-' ing aninwardly extending upper flange, a recep.- tacle having an outwardly extending rim' engag ing said flange for the securement of said receptacle thereto, the rim of said receptacle, further,

.. said receptacle and having flexible lip means extendingangularly upwardly therefrom to bear resiliently against theunder surface .of saidcover means, and means for removably securing said cover means relative to'said receptacle, including resilient members integral with said body memberl and extending radially outwardly therefrom in surface contact with said rim and having outer edge portions overhanging said flange, a. lower marginal edge of said cover means having a reentrant curvature for engagement with said overhanging edge portions, and means passing through said resilient member and said receptacle rim to secure the same jointly to said upper 2. In combination, supporting structure hav ing an inwardly extending upper flange, a receptacle having an outwardly extending rim engaging said flange for the securement'of said receptacle thereby, the rim of said'receptacle,

further, having an inwardly f extendinggcon tinuous bead, cover means for said receptacle; means for providing a seal between said cover surface of said covermeans, and means for 're-- movably securinglsaid .cover meansprelativetosaid receptacle, including resilientjinembers fixed to said flange and having outer edge portions overhanging the same, a lower marginal edge portion of said cover means having a re-entrant curvature for releasable engagement with said overhanging edge portions.

3. In combination, a supporting structure having an inwardly extending upper flange, a receptacle having an outwardly extending rim means engaging said flange for the support of said receptacle thereby, cover means for said receptacle, means for providing a seal between said cover means and said receptacle including a resilient body member expanding radially into engagement with therim portion of said receptacle and having flexible lip means extending upwardly therefrom to bear resiliently against the under surface of said cover, and means for removably securing said cover relative to said receptacle, including resilient members fixed to said flange and having outer edge portion overhanging the same, lower marginaledge portions of said cover means having a re-entrant curvature for releasable engagement with said overhanging edge portions.

4-. In combination, a receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, means providing a seal between said receptacle and said cover including a flexible body member in engagement with an upper edge portion of said receptacle and flexible lip means extending upwardly and inwardly from said body member throughout the periphery thereof to bear resiliently against the underside of said cover, and flexible means integral with said body member and extending outwardly therefrom below said lip member for engagement with said cover, the lower marginal edge portionof said cover having a re-entrant curvature for releasable engagement with said outwardly extending flexible means.

5. In combination, a supporting framework 6 having an inwardly extending upper marginal portion, a receptacle having flange means engaging said inwardly extending portion for securement thereto, a cover for said receptacle, means providing a seal between said receptacle and said cover, and flexible means formed integrally with said seal means extending outwardly therefrom beyond said receptacle flange means, said cover having a re-entrant curvature on its lower marginal edge for engagement with said flexible means to retain said cover releasably on said receptacle.

6. In combination, a receptacle having an upper rim extending outwardly therefrom, a cover for said receptacle, flexible members extending radially outwardly from said rim, said cover having a marginal wall configurated for releasable engagement with said flexible members for securement of said cover to said receptacle, and means" for providing a seal between said cover and said receptacle, said means including a resilient body member in surface contact with said rim and having a flexible lip extending around its periphery and projecting upwardly and inwardly from said body member to a height suf- I flcient to engage the underside of said cover in sealing relationship therewith.

EDWARD G. LIPSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

